The red squirrel has been displaced from most of England by the introduced grey squirrel, which outcompetes reds and transmits squirrelpox virus. Red squirrels now survive in Scotland, northern England and islands where grey squirrel control is maintained.
Red squirrel welfare is acutely threatened by squirrelpox — a viral haemorrhagic disease causing facial swelling, respiratory distress and death within 2 weeks of infection. Animals exposed to infected grey squirrels show visible signs of suffering before death. Conservation management that removes grey squirrels from red squirrel strongholds is the most welfare-protective intervention available. Supplementary feeding stations reduce winter starvation risk and allow welfare monitoring. Red squirrel welfare in captive breeding programmes requires careful management of social groups, dental health and diet to ensure animals suitable for reintroduction are genuinely fit for wild conditions.